Microbiology Flashcards
1
Q
What is amyloid?
A
Amyloid is a protein-polysaccharide complex produced and deposited in tissues during chronic infections, malignancies, and rheumatological disorders. It is a homogenous substance staining readily with Congo red. It is associated with a variety of chronic diseases, particularly tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, leprosy, Hodgkin disease, and carcinoma. Beta amyloid deposits in the brain contribute to Alzheimer disease; in the heart, they can cause cardiomyopathy.
